Let's be honest. Is your ironing board cover disgusting? I doubt it is as revolting a sight as mine, but I bet it shows some signs of wear and tear. Three years ago I made myself a new ironing board cover. I used a tutorial by Sew Much Good, which was excellent, and had a new cover fairly painlessly in just a couple of hours.
It was about two years overdue, but I made myself a new one yesterday, using this fast and easy tutorial. I really couldn't stand looking at that sad, stained cover for one more minute.
The first step is to cut a two yard long by 20 inches wide piece of fabric. The great thing about this is that you and a friend could buy a two yard length of fabric, cut it in half lengthwise and each get a new ironing board cover out of it. Or make one for now and one for later, or one for you and one for a gift. Seriously? My friend Lisa gave me a cute ironing board cover once, and I think it was one of the best presents I ever received. I was thrilled.
So let me show you the process:
I flipped the ironing board on top of the wrong side of the fabric and traced around it about three inches out from the edge of the board. I used a combination of pins, tailors chalk and a ruler.
Then I cut on my drawn line all around the piece of fabric.
The next step is to make a mile of bias tape. Why is it I can never just do that without checking a reference book for the right technique? I am always afraid I am doing something wrong. After pressing the bias tape in half, the next step is to attach it to the cover with some 1/4" wide elastic.
You carefully position the elastic on the inside fold of the bias tape and sew the raw edge of the bias tape all around the cover, being careful not to catch the elastic in your stitching. (Check out the tutorial, the author's photos and instructions are way better than mine).
Fiddle around with the elastic until it is just right, and secure it with some stitches. Now place your new ironing board cover on your board and fiddle a bit more until it is even and taut all around.
And there you go. Now I just need to promise myself to do this every year instead of every three. So, how about it? Want a new ironing board cover in a couple of hours? Check out that tutorial and make yourself one!
And while you are here, notice in the background that all my Steampunk blocks are done! Now I am appliquéing the center circles in place. Lattices are next. Ugh. I hate making lattices.
Wonderful tutorial here and in the links you provided. Thank you very much, thank you very much (please provide tune from Scrooge, the Albert Finney version of A Christmas Carol). Your new ironing board cover is lovely.
Just put on a music CD and your lattices will be finished nearly painlessly.
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | May 01, 2015 at 05:26 AM
I think we all have gross ironing board covers because we'd rather quilt than make covers! Yours looks nice by the way. I had to chuckle when you said you always have to check a reference book before doing bias binding...it's nice to know I'm not the only one who does that :o)
Posted by: Susan | May 01, 2015 at 05:47 AM
Thanks for the link to the busy woman's ironing board cover! I destroyed mine last week, and my ironing board is one of those of unconventional size. Time to pick fabric for it.
As payback, here are the instructions that I use for making bias binding: https://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/quick-and-easy-bias-cut-binding-tip/
Heather Mulder Peterson has a .pdf file with her instructions at the Bias-Cut Binding Handout link. They are the easiest ones that I've found out there. Plus, she has some amazing tutorials on binding odd-shaped quilts. I hope you like them as much as I do.
Posted by: Amy L | May 01, 2015 at 06:13 AM
Yes, I confess it's rather groos! But it's cheaper to buy a new one every now and then.
Posted by: Hildy | May 01, 2015 at 06:30 AM
Oh yes Nicole, my ironing board looks like yours! It's getting bad. Thanks for the tutorial. I've always wanted to try doing this and now I shall!
Posted by: Nancy Watkins | May 01, 2015 at 07:59 AM
My cover is DISGUSTING! It looks worse than your "before" photo AND it's ripped!!!!! Lol..... oh, and it's worse.... I bought a new cover and haven't bothered to put it on. I just keep avoiding (and worsening) the rip and stains. What in the world! I loved your post-- made me laugh at myself. Thanks for the laugh! (And the reminder to put the new cover on already-- hahahahaaaaaa)
Posted by: Robin Chapa | May 01, 2015 at 09:26 AM
Mine is disgusting too. Funny how all of a sudden one day it gets to us and we quickly make or buy a new one! I think the darker color is a good idea. Hides those scorch marks better....
Posted by: Linda W. | May 01, 2015 at 03:30 PM
Thanks for the tutorial, I think I will have to give this one a go.
Posted by: teresa | May 01, 2015 at 06:49 PM
Hey! How clever! Thanks Nicole!
I'll be doing this in the no so distant future!
Posted by: Liz S. | May 01, 2015 at 09:07 PM
Ha! I remember when you last recovered your ironing board. I bought some fabric, folded it in half and layed it down on top of mine, pending the cutting and sewing part. It has been there ever since, just laying on top! Now it is worn out and needs to be replaced again too. Maybe this time, I'll follow the tutorial and put to use that elastic that I bought 3 years ago...
Posted by: Jennifer Gwyn | May 04, 2015 at 01:49 PM